" be" the facilitator
Who said "the more i know,the less i understand"
maybe the answer is within, if you are an expert in a subject matter it is important to remain open minded to all new ideas in order to relate to the students. Acting out as a mediator is a good way not only to share and assess knowledge but it is also one way to reason, learn and find solutions to unanswered questions or new ideas.
Learning goes both ways, from a teacher or a student stand point.expert or not we all have the same quest but different visions, the answers sometime can be found within the mind or within a classroom.
Hi Francis!
Very well put! It's about staying in control of the learning process and there are many fun and creative ways to do that.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Agree. But there is a contract in there...you need to close the loop, find the answer and bring that information back to the class for further exploration or bring the side discussion to a conclusion and continue on.
The one aspect I find off-putting is the notion of adventure which can be a journey without an objective or a plan. At some point, running down intellectual trails without advancing to an objective will cause you to run out of time. In that sense an instructor is not god but guide. The guide is expected to know what paths may yield fruitful exploration and balance that against time and resources available. That is central to facilitation.
I love to learn and there is always something tat you don't know and the students can "teach" you.
If one keeps an open mind as a facilitator one will surely be a"learner" in the classroom in addition to being the instructor.
There I am! That's me! I always learn something from my students whether from a question I have to find an answer to or an experience they have had. This keeps me on my toes,thinking & studying to do better at passing on knowledge. Students can unknowingly become facilitators by asking me questions!
Hi Laura!
Maybe you haven't been a teacher for a long time, but you sound very seasoned. Very good approach!
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED107 Facilitator
Although I have only been teaching a short time, I feel that Jennifer's assertion of providing a "learning adventure" for students is accurate and positive. When students ask a question I don't know the answer to, I make it a point to reply, "I don't know, but I'll find out." This establishes trust with the student: as instructors, we don't know everything...we are human! Our responsibility lies in finding the answers to these questions, rather than guessing.
I love to learn and as an instructor, I always learn something from my students. Not subject matter knowledge but skills to address the next class in. Every challenging class causes me to excel more the next course.
Hi Jennifer!
I really like the comparison to a "learning adventure". That what it should be for not only the student but the instructor.
Good job!
Jane Davis
ED107 Facilitator
Since I have started teaching, I have been amazed at how much I have learned, mainly because of the questions that my students ask me. I have found that by making it a learning adventure, where we (the learner and the facilitator) are learning together. I do feel that students sometimes have the unrealistic expecation that the instructor is "god" and should know everything, but I find that my willingness to learn with them may encourage their curiosity.
Please explain what you mean by "acting out as a mediator". Thank you.
I agree - however most student want their instructor to be a God and this places a lot of stress on the instructor.
